Now taking recommendations

[Crunchy English]

Hey, what does the Escapist Community recommend under the following circumstances?

Best "Free" Game - My recent experience with Portal has got me thinking that I need pay full price, or become an asshole pirate, in order to enjoy games cheap or free. If you wait for the right deals or are just plain savvy enough, surely there are great games available for free or super cheap. I'll take recommendations on anything under $5.00 here. Indie games welcome, but I've already played World of Goo and Braid.

Best "Hidden Gem" from the last generation - I have easy access to all three systems from the last generation, but I think I've tapped out all the really well known stuff. Any obscure gem I might have missed? Don't worry about rarity or price, if you recommend it, I'm sure I can find it.

Best "I'm supposed to be working" Game - Echo Bazaar filled this for a little while, but it just didn't stick. I refuse to play those stupid little facebook games. But I work 10 hours days sometimes at the shop and have a lousy 5 customers. I need an unobtrusive app I can kill a little time with.

So what do you think Escapist, Can you hook me up?

 

[xHipaboo420x]

Spelunky.

Desktop Tower Defence.

Rogue-likes such as IVAN.

etc.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

In that order:

• Spelunky [http://www.spelunkyworld.com/]
  Beyond Good & Evil [http://beyondgoodevil.com/uk/intro.php]
  Desktop Tower Defense [http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp]

 

[Outright Villainy]

From the last gen, I don't know if you consider Shadow of the Colossus obscure, but that's a must anyway. F-Zero wasn't particularly huge either, but it's one of my favourite games ever.

 

[Knight of Cydonia]

Portal(if that counts)

(...shit I cant think of anything)

Press the space bar 5000

 

[Nikajo]

Um as for the rare gem, if you like RPGs then I would highly recommend Tales of Vesperia. It is easily my favourite RPG on the 360 (don't think it's available on PS3). It's a JRPG and similar to final fantasy in a sense but the combat is all real-time! The stories not half bad either. I spent 90 hours discovering everything on that game because it was just that much fun. A definite winner!

 

[Marter]

Free Game: TrackMania: Nations Forever (Steam)
Hidden Gem: Custom Robo (GameCube)
Unproductive Game: Final Fantasy on iPhone

 

[Crunchy English]

Crap,I've played all of the hidden gems...

Spelunky is super awesome though! Thanks for that guys.